This page will contain external links about Robert Donat, as they become available.

Robert Donat

Robert Donat (March 18, 1905 -
June 9, 1958) was an English actor, best remembered for his roles in The 39 Steps (1935) and Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939 film) (for
which he won an Academy Award). Donat was born in Withington,
Manchester, of Polish descent, but his success was largely due to typecasting as the quintessential English gentleman.

Donat made his first stage appearance in 1921 and his film debut in 1932 in The Private
Life of Henry VIII (as Thomas Culpepper), under the renowned film
director and producer Alexander Korda. However, he suffered from ill-health (asthma)
which blighted his career, and his last role, as the Mandarin of Yang Cheng in The Inn of the Sixth Happiness is memorable because it was apparent that he knew
he was close to death. He died from a cerebral haemorrage in London aged 53.

Robert Donat was married to Ella Annesley Voysey (1929-1946) and to the British actress Renee Asherson (1953-1958).

Robert Donat was married to Ella Annesley Voysey (1929-1946) and to the British actress Renee Asherson (1953-1958). Jimmy Durante died in Santa Monica, California
of pneumonia, and was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver
City. He died from a cerebral haemorrage in London aged 53. Durante had a nationally broadcast radio variety show; in the
1950s he had a television show as well.
He continued making movie appearances through 1963
and television appearances until 1970. However, he suffered from ill-health (asthma)
which blighted his career, and his last role, as the Mandarin of Yang Cheng in The Inn of the Sixth Happiness is memorable because it was apparent that he knew
he was close to death. He was featured in a series of comedy motion pictures paired with Buster
Keaton. Donat made his first stage appearance in 1921 and his film debut in 1932 in The Private
Life of Henry VIII (as Thomas Culpepper), under the renowned film
director and producer Alexander Korda. In the show, a policeman stops him while leading a live elephant and asks "What are you doing with that
elephant?" Durante stopped the show by saying "Elephant? What elephant?".

Donat was born in Withington,
Manchester, of Polish descent, but his success was largely due to typecasting as the quintessential English gentleman. In 1935 he starred in Billy Rose's
spectacle, "Jumbo". Chips (1939 film) (for
which he won an Academy Award). He had big hit in 1934 with his composition Inka Dinka Do, a novelty number he
sang and played piano on, and which became his signature song. Robert Donat (March 18, 1905 -
June 9, 1958) was an English actor, best remembered for his roles in The 39 Steps (1935) and Goodbye, Mr. In the mid 1920s he became a star on Vaudeville and radio with his music & comedy trio Clayton Jackson
& Durante (with Lou Clayton and Eddie Jackson); despite third billing Durante was the star of the act. The Winslow Boy (1948)- Sir Robert Morton. About 1917 he joined one of the first jazz bands in New York, The Original
New Orleans Jazz Band (all other musicians were from New Orleans).
Durante's outgoing personality and ability to "sell" a number to the audience started attracting greater attention, and by
1920 the band was renamed Jimmy Durante's Jazz Band.

The Count of Monte Cristo (1934) - Edmond
Dantes/The Count of Monte Cristo. In his youth Durante worked as pianist and entertainer in New York city, nickmaned "Ragtime Jimmy". He dropped out of school in eighth-grade to play ragtime piano. Jimmy Durante was born New York City. He was noted for his large
nose which he frequently made jokes about, which earned him the nickname Schnozzola.

Durante was a
pianist, actor, comedian, as well as a singer with a distinctive hoarse voice with
a strong working class New York City accent. James Francis "Jimmy" Durante (February 10, 1893 - January 29, 1980)
was an American entertainer, one of the most popular and recognized
personalities of the 1920s-1960s.